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The Unite Group was founded in Bristol in 1991, and remains headquartered in the city.

The business was founded by Nicholas Porter who, aged 21 and following research with the University of the West of England, recognised a growing demand for student accommodation.[4] Unused office buildings in Bristol’s centre were converted into flats, opening to their first students in 1992.

In 2000 the business moved its share register to the London Stock Exchange, and opened properties in Manchester, Liverpool and Portsmouth.[6]

During the following decade Unite created investment vehicles to secure rapid growth in London, across England and into Scotland. Of these vehicles, The Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF) is Europe’s largest fund focusing solely on direct-let student accommodation.[7]

Former National Express Chief Executive Phil White CBE became Non-Executive Chairman in May 2009, replacing Geoffrey Maddrell who had previously announced his departure after 10 years in the role.[9]

By 2011 the business had grown to 40,000 beds. It remains the UK’s biggest provider of student accommodation by capacity.[10]

In 2012 it founded charitable trust The Unite Foundation, which provides free accommodation and a cost-of-living allowance to students from “challenging circumstances”.[11]

In April 2014 Unite renamed itself ‘Unite Students’. Simultaneously, it launched its ‘Home for Success’ corporate philosophy; which it describes as its “business purpose”. The Home for Success announcement included a £40m reinvestment of profits into the business and 16 “signature commitments,” all of which relate to an improved student experience.[12]

The Unite Group is led by a small executive team of Chief Executive Mark Allan, Chief Financial Officer Joe Lister, Managing Director of Property Richard Simpson and Managing Director of Operations Richard Smith.

Unite Students employs over 1,000 people, with about 250 in their central Bristol headquarters and the remainder in the 23 towns and cities in which they operate.